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Break Even - The Bright Side CD Review

They Say :- The Bright Side is a story of birth and death and everything in between. Recorded in March at Reading Room Studios in Perth, it is an honest and passionate statement that was written to remember, to inspire and to never forget. In a scene flooded with bands that choose to focus on anger and apathy, Break Even separate themselves from the pack by encouraging the listener to find the bright side in everything, whether it be in life, in dreams, or in loss. Armed with a message, and a drive stronger than ever before.

'The Bright Side' is the debut full length album form Australian Hardcore outfit Break Even. This is a band who have built up quite a following in their native land based on previous EP releases and an impressive reputation as live performers. With this release Break Even are staking a serious claim for international recognition.

The genesis of this album has not been a happy one. Tragedy struck the band in late 2008 when guitarist Rowan Willoughby took his own life, devastating those he left behing and throwing a huge question mark over the future. Could, or indeed should, they go on ?

After some time the band did decide to continue, and out of the anguish and pain that had befallen them 'The Bright Side' was born. The title would seem to be something of an oxymoron, but although the grief and emotion are clearly present in the tracks of this CD it is a curiously upbeat and optimistic record. As the band say themselves, "it is an honest and passionate statement that was written to remember, to inspire and to never forget".

And that's all fine, but is this album a fitting memorial to a lost friend ?

'The Bright Side' is made up of very well crafted songs, and there is much more going on here than in 'traditional' Hardcore. The atmospheric passages that weave their way through the soul of the album give it a powerful impact. It benefits from some excellent guitar work that really lets the band exercise their growing musical muscle, even including a nicely worked Piano passage as the title track.

From the opening 'Sunrise' through to the emotional intensity of 'November 18th' this concept-esque work takes the existing Hardcore genre and adds quieter and much more melodic interludes which enhance the overall feel. The band manage to do this in a way that feels natural, rather than something they have tried to shoe-horn in. In fact, strangely, in places it is the classic Hardcore that sounds a bit incongruous along side the more thoughtful and layered elements. There is a real feeling that this is a band who are starting to move away from the restrictive confines of their 'original' genre and head off to explore new musical territory.

Given the difficult situation surrounding this album's birth it's surprisingly upbeat and almost cheerful. It's a celebration of talent and friendship and is indeed a fitting memorial to a lost friend. It is also a powerful introduction to a band which deserve to be much better known.

Dizzy